SP's Bad Phone-side Manner!

[marikiss]

I've noticed when booking with a lot of Indies or girls that answer there own phones that, they sound really bored, disinterested, or grumpy when they pick up. I get the feeling that they really don't feel like talking to me. I understand that they have to deal with douche bags prank calling or pervs asking for BB and all kinds of other nonsense, but still I've up and just hung up a few times because she sounded so blah in the first sentence or two, for those that have a voice mail message it sounds very bored as well, almost as if they don't want a message left.
One thing I learned very quickly when I was doing windows tech support a few years back, was the call can be managed much better if you start off cheerful. I have also read/heard half a dozen customer service books/audios/courses, that say the same thing. One thing I think that could help a lot of indies and even some agencies is to put a huge smile on there face when getting the phone. It's a proven fact that the voice changes when you smile and people can hear the difference. This can help anyone that does any business over the phone. First impressions can be very important. I'm less likely to give a girl $300 an hour if she sounds like she'd rather be getting a brazilian wax than make a booking, compared to the girl that sounds upbeat and/or alluring.

just some thoughts, Talk amongst yourselves.

 

[xix]

I've noticed when booking with a lot of Indies or girls that answer there own phones that,
One thing I learned very quickly when I was doing windows tech support a few years back, was the call can be managed much better if you start off cheerful. I have also read/heard half a dozen customer service books/audios/courses, that say the same thing. One thing I think that could help a lot of indies and even some agencies is to put a huge smile on there face when getting the phone. It's a proven fact that the voice changes when you smile and people can hear the difference. This can help anyone that does any business over the phone.

just some thoughts, Talk amongst yourselves.

Excellent point you have made.
Unfortunately Common Sense ( CS )is dead, or was never taught in school or by the parents, or never self taught.

Also I use this technique to measure my dates when the girl answers her cell phone then I know she just wants free diner or no CS. No matter what type of call she gets, business or her friend is calling her to get her out of the date "911" then I listen to her voice to see how the date is going, if she is bored I try to end it very soon.
I am sure she has better things to do. Like go home and count her cats.


20091206book

 

[GDLLover]

Very good points, your right it is a huge turn off to hear a hostile or disinterested voice on the other end.

I tend to be offended easily by this type of voice so I prefer to use email for most initial communications. Gives the lady a chance to realize i'm not a jerk before responding. Its unfortunate that the ladies have to deal with so many crank calls and ridiculous requests that I understand why they easily are offended. Its too bad the average good potential client call can get unpleasant unjustly.

 

[Rockslinger]

I've noticed when booking with a lot of Indies or girls that answer there own phones that, they sound really bored, disinterested, or grumpy when they pick up.

There was a complaint a while back about one indy SP who never answers her phone and never returns voice mail messages (or emails), hopefully she is an anomaly.

 

[marikiss]

There was a complaint a while back about one indy SP who never answers her phone and never returns voice mail messages (or emails), hopefully she is an anomaly.

Either she only took regulars, or she wasn't making any money.

The whole phone manner for me is a big one. The first 10-20 seconds of a call can play a huge part in me booking her. I admit I can be a bit friendlier on the phone than others. I'm a bluenoser and I say hello to strangers on the sidewalk every day. But I've called a couple SPs including highly reguarded ones on here and opened with, "hi there, how ya doin" or something very close and a few times, even though I was clear the lady sort of sounded surprized, at the question. WTF?

 

[Aardvark154]

Either she only took regulars, or she wasn't making any money.

If it who I am thinking of, she is in a niche market, and has gone back and forth about retiring. Both factors I believe had something to do with it, I agree that it was quite annoying.

 

[smylee52]

Can't be said enough . A girl's phone manner can get her dates or lose them .

.

 

[CapitalGuy]

Well, they likely hate their jobs, be it consciously or sub-consciously, and are not overly enthusiastic about another appointment to get boinked by one of their dad's co-workers, and it all comes home when they pick up the phone to make arrangements for another round of old-guy sex. Or, they need a fix.

 

[genintoronto]

Well, they likely hate their jobs, be it consciously or sub-consciously, and are not overly enthusiastic about another appointment to get boinked by one of their dad's co-workers, and it all comes home when they pick up the phone to make arrangements for another round of old-guy sex. Or, they need a fix.

Why, of course.

I will say that answering the phone is the most awkard aspect of my work for me. I've never been a big fan of the phone, and I've been told many times by friends and family that I sound really awkward and/or rude on the phone. I never mean to, but I think the medium just makes me uncomfortable.

But I'm conscious of it, so I make a particular effort when answering my work phone to NOT sound awkward or rude. I make a point of smiling when I say "hello?" and throughout the conversation: someone told me once that you can "hear" the smile on the other end. But sometime, if my phone rings when I'm out and about, it still often catches me off guard and I try to answer my best without giving too much hints to those around me who could hear my conversation.

There's one thing I would suggest to guys calling: introduce yourself at the beginning of the conversation. I know that personally, it always feel a tad weird to be asked whether I do X, Y or Z or where I'm located to someone who hasn't even shared a first name with me. And it happens more often than not that guys will start a conversation without introducing themselve first.

 

[CapitalGuy]

Why, of course.

I will say that answering the phone is the most awkard aspect of my work for me. I've never been a big fan of the phone, and I've been told many times by friends and family that I sound really awkward and/or rude on the phone. I never mean to, but I think the medium just makes me uncomfortable.

But I'm conscious of it, so I make a particular effort when answering my work phone to NOT sound awkward or rude. I make a point of smiling when I say "hello?" and throughout the conversation: someone told me once that you can "hear" the smile on the other end. But sometime, if my phone rings when I'm out and about, it still often catches me off guard and I try to answer my best without giving too much hints to those around me who could hear my conversation.

There's one thing I would suggest to guys calling: introduce yourself at the beginning of the conversation. I know that personally, it always feel a tad weird to be asked whether I do X, Y or Z or where I'm located to someone who hasn't even shared a first name with me. And it happens more often than not that guys will start a conversation without introducing themselve first.

http://www.oao.on.ca/locate.php?display=city&city=Toronto

 

[blank_dave]

I will say that answering the phone is the most awkard aspect of my work for me. I've never been a big fan of the phone, and I've been told many times by friends and family that I sound really awkward and/or rude on the phone. I never mean to, but I think the medium just makes me uncomfortable.

That's entirely possible. If you're a sociable person who reads a lot of subtle cues (which you are, like I have to tell you that), the phone takes that all away from you. I'm inclined to be the opposite, because I don't have to worry about what I'm saying non-verbally....Also why I like PM/email even more.

There's one thing I would suggest to guys calling: introduce yourself at the beginning of the conversation....And it happens more often than not that guys will start a conversation without introducing themselve first.

I don't recall if I did that or not when I called you, Genevieve. But that's a behavior that's been drilled into me for years. Excluding family, any time I make a call it's "Hi, it's Dave ***** calling..."

 

[Rockslinger]

Also why I like PM/email even more.

I find PM/email/texting not very interactive. I resort to that stuff unusually when i'm trying to save a long distance charge. I prefer real time live talk where I can actually hear their tone of voice.

 

[marikiss]

Why, of course.

I will say that answering the phone is the most awkard aspect of my work for me. I've never been a big fan of the phone, and I've been told many times by friends and family that I sound really awkward and/or rude on the phone. I never mean to, but I think the medium just makes me uncomfortable.

But I'm conscious of it, so I make a particular effort when answering my work phone to NOT sound awkward or rude. I make a point of smiling when I say "hello?" and throughout the conversation: someone told me once that you can "hear" the smile on the other end. But sometime, if my phone rings when I'm out and about, it still often catches me off guard and I try to answer my best without giving too much hints to those around me who could hear my conversation.

There's one thing I would suggest to guys calling: introduce yourself at the beginning of the conversation. I know that personally, it always feel a tad weird to be asked whether I do X, Y or Z or where I'm located to someone who hasn't even shared a first name with me. And it happens more often than not that guys will start a conversation without introducing themselve first.

That did give me an idea!
Maybe it could be a good idea for SPs or agency receptionists, to have a sticker by the caller ID, or even a small postit that said smile or a happy face or somethig to remind them. What I used to do to remind myself was make a joke of the whole idea of smiling while on the phone, I'd get a huge fake ear to ear girn and loook at my friends around me, because they thought the idea was dumb. I did however have far fewer pissed of customers than they did.

 

[Riley.Royal]

I try and answer my phone with a smile on my face, which is something you learn working in a call centre, if you answer with a smile you automatically sound cheerful on the phone.

When I am getting a string of prank calls I do not answer my phoen I let it go to voice mail. but sometimes the phone manner is not the same on the other line. my friends always laugh at me when I put on my "Riley voice"

 

[John Williams 785]

It is just common sense to be friendly and polite in this business. I find that if the girl is miserable I will be less likely to book. Conversely, if I get a girl with a nice, friendly phone manner I am more inclined to book.
Having said that, I once called one of the most highly reviewed girls on this site and she picked up and snapped "I'm fully booked up for today!" and hung up. I was really turned off, but a few weeks later I tried again (she was with an agency, so I didn't have to talk to her when I booked) and it was one of my 5 ATF sessions.
In the absence of quality reviews, however, I think it definitely hurts a girl's ability to book those of us on the fence if she is miserable on the phone.

 

[marikiss]

yesterday morning (MONDAY) just before 8 am, my business phone is on vibrate...i roll over and hear it moving around... but miss the call...i see it's long distance Kitchener/Guelph area...i m still sleepy.... just laying around in bed, stretching out...the phone starts jumping around again but once again by the time i get to it i miss the call....i figure maybe it's a client coming in from outta town wanting to book in an hour or so....SOOOOOOOOO i put on my smiley face and return the long distance call.....the guy asks me if i m available on FRIDAY!

DAMN, I completely refused to get the phone before 8, and it better be important, if it's before 10!

dumb question, but did you book it?